YUM! For #cleaneating inspiration follow lovehealthyfood_ at http://bit.ly/162OsQZ
I used to be a real skeptic about keeping a food journal or really tracking my exercise in a meaningful way. I’d read all the magazine articles and tips about the benefits, but it just seemed like a hassle to me at best. At its worst, it seemed useless because whenever I had tried it before, I just didn’t write things down if I overindulged. Plus, looking up calorie counts was a pain, and I was always self-conscious about the possibility of someone finding my food journal in my bag.
However, this time around, technology is lending a serious advantage to my food and fitness tracking. By making accountability easy and removing many of the hassles that used to be my excuses, I am making consistent progress. Read on for my favorite (free!) fitness apps.
My Fitness Pal
This was the little app that convinced me once and for all that I could handle a food journal. It has the most extensive inventory of calorie counts on foods from homemade recipes to fast food treats. I have tried other calorie counter apps and My Fitness Pal has the most simple layout and is most user friendly. One of my favorite features is that each day when you complete your food journal, the app calculates your anticipated weight for about a month into the future if you keep up the exercise and calorie intake of that day. By connecting my daily habits to a long-term result, My Fitness Pal makes me accountable and aware of my food intake.
Couch to 5K (C25K)
I always wanted to try interval training, but found excuses not too because I didn’t like having to time myself for the different activities. However, in order to work my way up to running a 5k, I knew I could not just start off running because I wasn’t fit enough yet. The free version of C25K is fantastic, because has a walk/run interval plan with audio cues to tell you when to switch it up! I just plug in my earphones and away I go without having to keep track on a stopwatch. What’s more, I can listen to my own music playlists at the same time, and C25K just interjects the cues throughout my workout.
Okay, I know this is not really a fitness app. But hear me out, because there is a huge community of people on Instagram that are supporting and motivating each other towards better habits. At first, I was wary of such groups on Instagram, because I had heard terrible stories about the glorification of unhealthy ideals through the pro-anorexia and pro-bulimia movements. That disturbed me, and those ideals are against my health goals. But when I came across the #cleaneating hashtag, I found a more positive message. I started following users who were posting pictures of amazing-looking meals comprised of simple ingredients with a heavy focus on fruits and vegetables. Seriously, I challenge you to follow user LoveHealthyFood and not be salivating over veggie stir-fries and fruit salads. For positive and motivating fitness posts, I follow the user Fitmotivation for inspirational quotes and pictures.
What are your favorite exercise and eating tools? Who else should I be following on Instagram for motivation? Share below, tweet us @somelikeithot9, or follow me on Instagram: emmyl0u6
xx, Emily
no cream no sugar 
Recent Comments